Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

91 Best Universities in California for Anthropology

Focusing specifically on Anthropology, our data science engine identified the 91 most influential universities in California. Based on 3.52M scholarly articles and 169.37M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Anthropology. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#4 in United States #5 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Anthropology

#5 in United States #6 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Anthropology

#7 in United States #8 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

4

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Anthropology

#12 in United States #14 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Anthropology

#20 in United States #22 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Anthropology

#31 in United States #35 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Anthropology

#34 in United States #39 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Anthropology

#40 in United States #46 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Anthropology

#53 in United States #63 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Anthropology

#73 in United States #86 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Anthropology

#104 in United States #121 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Anthropology

#118 in United States #136 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Anthropology

#186 in United States #213 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Anthropology

#224 in United States #253 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Anthropology

#278 in United States #314 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Anthropology

#524 in United States #581 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Whittier

Whittier College

For Anthropology

#776 in United States #843 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

18

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Anthropology

#215 in United States #244 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

19

Oakland

For Anthropology

#607 in United States #666 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

20

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Anthropology

#213 in United States #242 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

21

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Anthropology

#810 in United States #878 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

22

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Anthropology

#385 in United States #428 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

23

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Anthropology

#781 in United States #848 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

24

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Anthropology

#898 in United States #970 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

25

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Anthropology

#461 in United States #510 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

26

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Anthropology

#616 in United States #675 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

27

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Anthropology

#232 in United States #262 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

28

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Anthropology

#397 in United States #440 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

29

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Anthropology

#333 in United States #370 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

30

Berkeley

Pacific School of Religion

For Anthropology

#999 in United States #1072 in North America

97% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

31

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Anthropology

#554 in United States #613 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

32

Claremont, CA

For Anthropology

#355 in United States #395 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

33

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Anthropology

#922 in United States #995 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

34

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Anthropology

#350 in United States #389 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

35

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Anthropology

#162 in United States #186 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

36

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Anthropology

#753 in United States #819 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

37

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Anthropology

#479 in United States #533 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

38

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Anthropology

#726 in United States #788 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

39

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Anthropology

#392 in United States #435 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

40

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Anthropology

#735 in United States #798 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

41

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Anthropology

#544 in United States #603 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

42

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Anthropology

#151 in United States #174 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

43

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Anthropology

#808 in United States #875 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

44

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Anthropology

#407 in United States #453 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

45

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Anthropology

#704 in United States #766 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

46

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Anthropology

#300 in United States #336 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

47

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Anthropology

#830 in United States #899 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

48

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Anthropology

#492 in United States #546 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

49

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Anthropology

#301 in United States #337 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

50

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Anthropology

#327 in United States #364 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

51

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Anthropology

#699 in United States #761 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

52

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Anthropology

#323 in United States #360 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

53

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Anthropology

#289 in United States #325 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

54

Rosemead

University of the West

For Anthropology

#560 in United States #619 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

55

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Anthropology

#516 in United States #573 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

56

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Anthropology

#208 in United States #236 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

57

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Anthropology

#572 in United States #631 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

58

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Anthropology

#526 in United States #583 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

59

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Anthropology

#509 in United States #565 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

60

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Anthropology

#271 in United States #304 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

61

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Anthropology

#696 in United States #758 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

62

La Mirada

Biola University

For Anthropology

#582 in United States #641 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

63

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Anthropology

#149 in United States #172 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

64

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#628 in United States #688 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

65

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Anthropology

#210 in United States #238 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

66

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Anthropology

#705 in United States #767 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

67

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#167 in United States #191 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

68

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Anthropology

#850 in United States #919 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

69

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Anthropology

#787 in United States #854 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

70

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Anthropology

#156 in United States #180 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

71

San Diego

Ashford University

For Anthropology

#872 in United States #943 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

72

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Anthropology

#272 in United States #308 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

73

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Anthropology

#286 in United States #322 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

74

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Anthropology

#295 in United States #331 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

75

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Anthropology

#784 in United States #851 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

76

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Anthropology

#360 in United States #400 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

77

Atherton

For Anthropology

#954 in United States #1027 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

78

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Anthropology

#634 in United States #694 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

79

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Anthropology

#326 in United States #363 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

80

Claremont, CA

For Anthropology

#458 in United States #507 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

81

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Anthropology

#304 in United States #340 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

82

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Anthropology

#341 in United States #379 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

83

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Anthropology

#264 in United States #296 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

84

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Anthropology

#647 in United States #708 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

85

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Anthropology

#923 in United States #996 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

86

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Anthropology

#334 in United States #371 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

87

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Anthropology

#651 in United States #712 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

88

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Anthropology

#260 in United States #292 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

89

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Anthropology

#859 in United States #928 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

90

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Anthropology

#449 in United States #497 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

91

San Anselmo

San Francisco Theological Seminary

For Anthropology

#863 in United States #934 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT